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sirdesmond

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PC Gamers, Do you use a Controller?

After purchasing Jamestown on Steam and not having much fun playing it with the keyboard controllers, I went out to Best Buy and picked up a wired 360 controller (the Razer Onza Tournament Edition). Not only is it really a great controller (that I now also use as my primary controller when playing games on my 360), but in many ways, it has revitalized a lot of my PC gaming experience. Things that I never would have bought on PC before like Just Cause 2, Darksiders, etc. are now entirely within my realm of comfort when playing with this controller. It is like having all the ease of us found in a console (and being able to lay back on my couch while I play) mixed with the customizability and cheapness of many PC games.

Obviously there are always bad ports but I have found a lot of games to work instantly and flawlessly with a Windows controller.

Does anyone else use a set up similar to this, playing some types of games (FPS, RTS, etc.) with the mouse and keyboard and others (third-person games, platformers, Shoot 'Em Ups) with a controller? I'm really excited about my PC again (although I've always been a PC gamer to some extent) and I just want to know if I am late to the party on this whole controller-PC combo or not.

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VierasTalo

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Edited By VierasTalo

I use my PS3-controller on PC-games occasionally. Mostly older games and crappy ports. The occasional emulator-game also works better with the controller than one the keyboard.

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misterhaan

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Edited By misterhaan

i have a logitech gamepad and logitech joystick and hardly ever even connect either of them.  the joystick was so i could play flight simulators but i haven't done much of that.  the gamepad i tried a couple times for games that were shoddy ports, but i found i still preferred sub-par keyboard+mouse to gamepad control.

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Branthog

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Edited By Branthog

I never have and I probably never will. The primary point of a PC game is that you have a set of WASD+M controls at your disposal. If you need a console controller for the game, it should probably be played on the console with a nice big screen and the comfort of a couch.

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Meowshi

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Edited By Meowshi
@Herzalot said:
Well, I don't own a controller and never had the need for it.  ( Even for racing games or console ports or even Super Meat Boy. ) I think Keyboard and mouse are ideal for any kind of game in any kind of genre.Of course, there are some games that are easier to play with a controller, but it's not like you can't play them decently with K&M. 
It must be pretty hard going through life contradicting yourself after every sentence.
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TheKeyboardDemon

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Edited By TheKeyboardDemon
@dcgc said:
@TheKeyboardDemon said:
... occasionally I find a game where I like to alternate between the two like GTA IV where I prefer keyboard and mouse until I get into a car and then I prefer a controller.
So you are constantly changing from KB+M to controller or the opposite, while playing the game? Wow...
A lot would depend on what's happening in the game, though with GTA IV, I've long given up on the story and only play it occasionally to drive around, fight cops, use cheats to get loads of weapons and fight till I drop or just meander around the streets, so if I'm playing at a slow enough pace then I grab the keyboard and mouse when free look is more important or the controller when I'm cruising around in a car. GTA IV is the only game I have where I can comfortably swap between KB&M and controller.
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SexualBubblegumX

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Edited By SexualBubblegumX

Depends on the game but yeah i'm way more comfortable with a pad on some things.

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Mr_Skeleton

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Edited By Mr_Skeleton

For some games. Some games just work better with a controller, there is no shame in admitting that,

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PerryVandell

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Edited By PerryVandell

Really depends on the game. I generally won't with an fps unless the mouse and keyboard controls are broken (*cough Dead Space *cough). If it's a third person action game like Arkham Asylum or Dead Rising 2 then I'll generally plug a controller in. There's nothing wrong with using a controller instead of a mouse and keyboard. It's your game, play the way that makes you happy.

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BlatantNinja23

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Edited By BlatantNinja23

If its 3rd person i pretty much always use a controller, as well as racing games. There also are some fps' that feel more like the mouse emulating a controller then me actually controlling the game, so then i also use a controller.

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Mmmslash

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Edited By Mmmslash

I use a 360 controller for racing, fighting, and Bastion

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GunslingerPanda

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Edited By GunslingerPanda

Depends on the game, but usually no. Darksiders? Yes, because it's made for a controller.

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gamer_152

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Edited By gamer_152  Moderator

No, but I could really do with a controller. It'd be useful for messing around in XNA with and it'd sure make Super Meat Boy easier.

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DonPixel

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Edited By DonPixel

@sirdesmond: Is that control really worth the price? I was thinking on getting one for my xbox and pc (when needed).

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TheSeductiveMoose

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Only when I use emulators.

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sirdesmond

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Edited By sirdesmond

@DonPixel: I definitely think so, especially since it is only a tad higher in price than a standard 360 controller. It is the best modern gen controller I've used, either first or third party.

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DonPixel

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Edited By DonPixel

@sirdesmond: Cool, I wasn´t aware of the price, My black mamba was a hundred so I though this was about to be expensier.

Definitely getting one.

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PatchRowcester

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Edited By PatchRowcester

I have been using a Saitek rumble force controller for the last 7 tears and its been working great! Can't get anything better for $24!

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firewrkninja

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Edited By firewrkninja

no.

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McShank

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Edited By McShank

I have my ps3 controller set up on my laptop for when i need it. Mainly for things like Super meat boy, new vegas, arkham asylum, borderlands. things that are multi-console and just feel better with a controller then keyboard..

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UnrealDP

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Edited By UnrealDP

Yeah, tons of times. Have you ever tried to play Bulletstorm on a keyboard? It's not ideal to say the least.....

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JudgeDread

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Edited By JudgeDread

depends on the game,  Usually consoley games need gamepad so I use gamepad for those
FPS: Mouse/Keyboard
3PS: Gamepad 
Racing: Gamepad/wheel  
Platform:  Gamepad
Strategy: Mouse/Keyboard

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CaLe

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Edited By CaLe

Recently I have started to!!! Even for FPS games! Borderlands and Deus Ex for example!! I would never do so for multiplayer though, because mouse and keyboard are definitely more precise, just sometimes precision is less important than comfort.

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WEB_War4

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Edited By WEB_War4

Rumble. What? Rumble! I'll use the controller if I can.

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SgtTimBob

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Edited By SgtTimBob

The xbox controller is awesome for racers and platformers. If a game plays better with the controller, then I'll use it. One of the best buys I made.

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Draugen

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Edited By Draugen

Nope. I use a steering wheel and I use a flight stick, in addition to mouse and keyboard. Never a controller though. They belong with the consoles.

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Ryman

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Edited By Ryman

If I have a game that plays better with a controller I will use a controller instead. It makes sense to use the better alternative if you have it right? Not all games work that well on a Mouse & Keyboard.

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Vextroid

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Edited By Vextroid

I bust out the 360 controller for Need-For-Speed Hot Pursuit, Tomb Raider, RE5 etc.

PS3 controller for SSFIV:AE.

But stick with the KB+M for FPS'es and RTS'eseseses.

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Praab_NZ

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Edited By Praab_NZ

I don't, and I dont feel like I'm missing out on anything by a loss of precision in some games. Which may just be some kind of cognitive dissonance.

Nothing against the idea, but for the majority of games and genres it is just better to use a mouse and keyboard. Racing and perhaps stealth action can suffer noticeably.

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KillyDarko

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Edited By KillyDarko

Nope, not anymore.
I don't do well with controllers at all, even though I have one and tried it a bunch of times-- but I always play much better and get much better scores with the KBM configuration.

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John1912

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Edited By John1912

LoL, Diablo 2, Dragon age, RTS games I use a mouse. Recently Dead Island, Fallout NV, The Witcher 2, Deus Ex I use 360, Most FPS Ive switched to a controller unless I play them online, which I almost never do. It feels more organic imo. I enjoy a bit more skill/realism in not having retard pinpoint head shots/aiming in general. Mouse not required I use the controller.

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TwoLines

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Edited By TwoLines

Yep. if a game was made for a console, I play with a pad.

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Giefcookie

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Edited By Giefcookie

A 360 pad is on my list for building a new gaming PC but its below a new mouse and monitor atm.

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edge426

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Edited By edge426

all depends if i really fell like it but if its a console port almost always

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FriedGreenEngineer

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I usually switch back and forth between using a controller and keyboard/mouse. Super Meat Boy on a keyboard irks me.

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crusader8463

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Edited By crusader8463

Nope. If KBM are so terrible that the game can't be played with it then I uninstall it and never buy a game from the people who made it again.

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rockhardalibi

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Edited By rockhardalibi

This comes up a lot when explaining why people don't like PC gaming, and it's a weird argument.

The old, "I'd wouldn't want to play (insert console exclusive here) on the PC anyway 'cause I don't like mouse and keyboard, and I like to play on my couch."

The reason I love PC gaming is the flexibility. I do use a gamepad for the games that are best that way. I do play from my couch on my nice big TV. I also use a mouse and keyboard for all the games where it suits me.

That's the point, use what is right for you.

It's a PC, that means options.

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Mercer

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Edited By Mercer

I bought a X360 controller just to play some console ports that were on sale on Steam, it's much better for 3-person brawlers and racing. It's great, some games just feel much more RIGHT on controller

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F4t4l3nd

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Edited By F4t4l3nd

Sometimes. Been using my PS3 controller with MotionJoy to play the Witcher 2. Combat in that game just feels like it was designed for a gamepad. Played Darksiders and Arkham Asylum with the same setup. Some games just feel better to me with a gamepad.

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guynamedbilly

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Edited By guynamedbilly

Yea definitely. I use it on platformers, any driving or flying game that I can't use my steering wheel on, and some third person action games like GTA4 and Darksiders. I don't have enough interest in my PC gamer cred to not play the way I feel best.

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AlexW00d

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Edited By AlexW00d

@Fripplebubby said:

Racing games are always better with a controller. Other than that, no.
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spartanlolz92

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Edited By spartanlolz92

i perfer gamepad for all fpses and third person shooters. mouse is actually more inaccurate for me. i have twitchy hands caused by cerebal palsy and well it makes the mouse too uncomfortable to use and well to sensitive.

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mandude

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Edited By mandude

I would have liked a controller for the racing in RAGE, but other than that, I've never preferred controllers.